Articles tagged with Plants
A new study provides a theoretical foundation for understanding competitive root behavior, revealing that plants adjust their root growth strategies according to the proximity of competing plants. The research reconciles conflicting hypotheses and demonstrates that roots are likely used to preempt resource capture by competitors in nea...
Researchers discovered that plants adjust their root investment when planted with neighbors, reducing overlap to minimize competition. The study suggests a balance between aboveground and belowground resource use is key to understanding carbon deposition and optimizing food production.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are developing innovative technologies to improve transportation, biology, radiation, and climate. Air taxis could significantly reduce fuel consumption while alleviating traffic congestion. Fungi use signaling molecules to communicate with each other and regulate growth. The lab is also vis...
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba used gene editing to introduce diversity into tomatoes, improving their nutrition and environmental sustainability. The study found that 10 out of 12 resulting tomato lines contained high levels of carotenoids, a precursor to vitamin A with antioxidant properties.
Researchers from Boyce Thompson Institute created a high-quality reference genome for S. pimpinellifolium, discovering sections of the genome underlying fruit flavor, size and ripening, stress tolerance and disease resistance. The study found over 92,000 structural variants related to important traits in cultivated tomatoes.
Researchers from SMART and TLL discovered a way to detect shade avoidance syndrome (SAS) in plants within hours using Raman spectroscopy, enabling farmers to intervene timely and improve crop yield. The method can be widely applied across various plant species and crops.
A recent study found that cassava can maintain its nutritional quality and photosynthetic efficiency even under elevated carbon dioxide levels. The crop showed significant yield increases of 22-39% in various varieties, making it a promising option for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.
Researchers at FAU identify a molecular marker in Cuscuta parasites that triggers recognition by tomato receptors, leading to immune response. The discovery may improve crop resistance to parasitic plants.
Researchers found that as microbes adapt to new hosts, they become less beneficial to hosts of other genotypes. The study suggests that there may not be a single universally healthy microbiome, and transplanted microbes need time to adjust before providing benefits.
Researchers developed a model that shows CAM-like metabolism can save more than 50% of water while maintaining 80% productivity in temperate climates. The study also identified an alternative CAM cycle involving mitochondrial enzyme ICDH, which can add up to 11% of total water savings.
Researchers at FAU identify a protein in dodder that triggers tomato defense mechanism, allowing crops to recognize and resist parasitic attacks. The discovery may lead to increased crop resistance against parasitic plants.
Research demonstrates that a stable bacterial microbiome exists within surface-sterilized perennial ryegrass seeds, which almost disappears as the plant matures but returns in a new generation of seed. The microbiome is influenced by soil type and can be used to track the movement of bacteria from parent to seed.
Researchers from the University of Portsmouth and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, have created a new checklist to guide plant breeders in growing crops more sustainably. The tool helps breeders understand species better and find ways to increase growth using wild plant species.
Researchers have developed a new technique to fabricate tiny circuits from ultrathin materials for next-generation electronics. Plants are being engineered to produce new molecules with enhanced properties, while lignin is transformed into a precursor for a useful chemical with wide range of applications
Researchers discovered a fungal virus that converts a deadly fungal pathogen into a beneficial endophytic fungus in rapeseed plants. The transformed fungus boosts the plant's immune system, leading to increased weight, root growth, and resistance to diseases.
A landmark special issue collaboration between Kew and New Phytologist Foundation highlights the global roadmap for protecting and sustainably using plants and fungi. The research emphasizes the importance of collaboration and recognizes the threats to plant and fungal diversity, highlighting a critical need for conservation efforts.
Domestication led to reduced genetic diversity and elimination of beneficial traits like robustness in drought stress and resistance to pathogens. The study identified key genes and metabolites influencing fruit quality, including health-promoting flavonoids and defensive compounds.
A global-scale meta-analysis found that diverse leaf litter increases decomposition rates by 34.7%. This could be crucial for predicting future changes in biogeochemical cycles and climate feedbacks on Earth.
Researchers at the University of Queensland have found a new family of toxins, gympietides, in the Gympie-Gympie stinging tree that can cause long-lasting pain similar to spider and cone snail venom. The toxins permanently change sodium channels in sensory neurons, suggesting potential for developing new painkillers.
Materials chemists at UMass Amherst create a polymer tattoo on plant leaves to detect early ozone damage, which can reduce crop yields and threaten the food supply. The innovative method allows for frequent and long-term monitoring of cellular ozone damage in economically important crops.
A team of scientists is developing genetically engineered switchgrass types that can grow anywhere and maximize crop yield, stress tolerance, and carbon sequestration. The research aims to create a sustainable biofuel solution to meet domestic energy demands.
A citizen science study led by the Estonian Research Council analyzed data from over 1,700 observations, revealing a systematic dominance of short-styled morphs and increased deviations in smaller populations with higher human population density. The findings have significant implications for conservation efforts, highlighting another ...
Researchers studied a unique plant species with one leaf that continues to grow larger indefinitely. The study found overlapping gene expression patterns, suggesting the plant's unusual growth is due to a hybrid of shoot meristem and leaf cells.
A study on Arctic tundra plants reveals that snow cover and summer temperature significantly impact functional trait diversity. In a warming climate, tundra plants may develop taller leaves and rapid resource-acquisition traits.
A study finds that crickets and camel crickets help disperse the seeds of the early-diverging orchid Apostasia nipponica. This mutualistic relationship allows both species to benefit from the association, with the insects obtaining nutrients from the pulp and the orchid achieving long-distance seed dispersal.
Researchers discover a novel mechanism of structural color in Viburnum tinus fruits, using lipid nanostructures to reflect blue light. The striking blue color may also serve as a signal to birds indicating the fruit's nutritional value.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Guam found that cycad plants share nitrogen and carbon through the soil, creating habitable environments for other organisms.
Researchers at Oregon State University have found that the order of microorganisms colonizing plants has a significant impact on microbiome composition and disease susceptibility. This discovery could provide farmers with important tools to combat plant diseases and maintain crop diversity.
A team led by Maggie Wagner will study how plants and microbes adapt to drought, focusing on genetic changes in microbial communities. The research aims to understand the impact of drought on plant growth, health, and ability to withstand water stress.
Researchers have found a new temperature sensing mechanism in plants that uses slow growth to measure long-term changes in temperature. The study reveals that the protein NTL8 plays a crucial role in this process, accumulating slowly over time and being diluted by faster growth rates.
Researchers detected six coumarins in oak wood, wine, and spirits, finding that a combination can produce a bitter taste. Higher levels of coumarins were found in red wines and spirits, particularly those aged for longer times.
A new study reveals that crop plants can absorb microplastics, contaminating edible plants and potentially entering the food chain. The research found that particles as small as 2 micrometers in size can be taken up by plant roots, raising concerns about human health and agricultural sustainability.
A study by UNSW researchers found that tropical plants are more at risk from climate change than previously thought, with over 20% predicted to face temperatures above their upper limit. This is because they are near their maximum seed germination temperatures, and even small temperature increases could push them over the edge.
Researchers at Helmholtz Munich identified hundreds of new information exchange points between plant proteins, revealing that most proteins function in multiple signaling pathways. This discovery may lead to new strategies for biotechnological development or breeding of plants to address climate change challenges.
Wild strains of salmonella have been found to reopen stomates on plants, allowing them to bypass the immune defense system and cause foodborne illnesses. This finding highlights the increasing threat of opportunistic pathogens jumping from plants to humans through contaminated foods.
Scientists have discovered a way to control plant processes, such as growth and immune response, using colored light. The new system, PULSE, allows for precise manipulation of gene expression and can be repeated multiple times, opening up possibilities for improving crop yields and plant defenses.
A global study found that cultivated economic plants are 18 times more likely to naturalize than non-cultivated species, with multiple uses being the most successful. Economic plants of Asian origin show the greatest naturalization success.
Researchers at UC Davis propose a novel model of sex evolution before and during grapevine domestication, revealing the genetic basis of hermaphroditism. The study finds that female individuals arise from a recessive deletion in a gene necessary for pollen germination.
A review paper argues that bacteriophages are essential for maintaining healthy bacterial communities around plant roots, which is vital for plant growth. The researchers suggest that these phages can stimulate microbes to protect plants during droughts and transfer DNA between cells, leading to new functionalities.
Researchers at IST Austria found that hormone Auxin and pressure play a crucial role in plant wound healing. By manipulating Auxin levels and cellular pressure, the team identified these governing processes as key to understanding how plants regenerate and survive in challenging environments.
Plant cells use mechanosensitive ion channels to sense cell swelling and induce programmed cell death. This regulatory mechanism protects the plant from damage. The discovery provides insight into how plants respond to mechanical signals, such as cell swelling, rather than chemical signals.
Researchers tracked the life cycles of 43 plant species over 25 years, finding that some species' growing seasons are lengthening while others are shortening. The study suggests that climate change may be driving seasonal life cycle shifts in plants, but more research is needed to confirm this.
Researchers used co-clustering analysis to study the spatio-temporal differentiation of spring phenology in China. The results revealed three spatial patterns and five temporal patterns, with most areas in China exhibiting a stable state, while northern regions showed fluctuating trends.
Researchers analyzed long-term first bloom dates dataset using Bregman block average co-clustering algorithm with I-divergence, revealing spatio-temporal differentiation of spring phenology in China. The study identified three spatial patterns and five temporal categories, with most areas belonging to the stable state.
Researchers found a phenomenon called 'epigenetic resetting' in plant sperm that erases histone modifications, allowing seeds to forget their environment. This mechanism is similar to data erasure on hard drives and is essential for plants to adapt to changing conditions.
A new study by UMass Amherst and NC State biologists found that flower strips benefit common Eastern bumblebees despite some plants increasing pathogen infection rates. The researchers created three conditions with canola plants and different types of flower strips, showing that bees reproduce more with flower strips than without.
A team of scientists discovered that plants reset their epigenetic memory by removing the H3K27me3 histone mark from sperm, allowing seeds to remember only their mother's environment. This process is crucial for seed development and ensures proper flowering times.
A method integrating phylogenetic, spatial, and bioactivity data identifies promising plant clades with high anti-infective activities. Conservation of biodiversity hotspots is reinforced by a strong correlation between species diversity and metabolite diversity.
Researchers at Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University have found a way to increase wheat immunity by stimulating the biosynthesis of secondary compounds. This breakthrough could lead to the development of pre-sowing treatments that enhance plant resistance to environmental stresses.
A new study shows that salt-tolerant bacteria can be used to enhance salt tolerance in various plant types. Researchers found promising initial results with Kentucky Bluegrass, increasing yield 8.4 times in dry weight compared to control plants.
A team of Wake Forest researchers, led by Gloria Muday, is working on a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation to find heat-tolerant tomatoes. The goal is to map out how reproductive genes work in these varieties, which can help breed or engineer dependable crops despite rising global temperatures.
Plant cells must balance trade-offs between communication, resource exchange, and protection against pathogens like fungi and bacteria. Researchers discovered that chitin perception in plasmodesmata triggers specific signaling pathways that allow cells to isolate themselves, regulating vital processes independently of immune responses.
A new study by Michigan State University scientists reveals that plants have genetic systems to host and nurture the right microbiome, promoting healthy growth. Increased microbiome diversity correlates with plant health, while abnormal compositions lead to tissue damage and symptoms similar to human inflammatory bowel disease.
A team of researchers has identified the wallflower as a suitable model plant for discovering new cardenolides, which could lead to safer versions of heart disease and cancer treatments. The study provides a foundation for understanding the biosynthesis of cardenolides and their potential applications.
Scientists have discovered a key mechanism by which plant stem cells maintain their developmental potential, enabling branching and optimizing crop architecture. The study shows that the SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (STM) gene activates its own expression to keep its lineage active.
A comprehensive guide on tree species selection has been developed to combat air pollution from roads. The new framework identifies 12 influential traits for 61 tree species that make them effective barriers against pollution.
Scientists at NTU Singapore have developed a way to turn pollen into soft and flexible microgel particles, which could serve as building blocks for new eco-friendly materials. The resulting pollen-based particles show promise for applications such as wound dressing, prosthetics, and implantable electronics.
Researchers developed an easy-to-use sensor that can sensitively detect changes in ethylene levels, a key hormone in plant health. The sensor uses a network of single-walled carbon nanotubes to monitor fluctuations in ethylene gas levels, with high sensitivity suitable for monitoring plants in the field.
Researchers identified peptides that trigger immune responses in multiple plant species, including citrus, potentially preventing or reducing yield loss from citrus greening. This discovery offers a new hope for the devastated citrus industry, where no resistant varieties are available and limited disease control measures exist.
A new monograph published in PhytoKeys reveals details about the 425 New World species in the largest genus of morning glories, including six new species and nine new subspecies. The study found that most plants originated from two large centers: South America and the Caribbean Islands.